Best time to go: May through to October, though June, July, August are busy tourist months.

Day 1 Melbourne

Arrive at Melbourne airport.

Day 2 Melbourne/ Kunming

Fly Singapore Airlines. Arrive Kunming after lunch. Yunnan Nationalities Museum and early Dinner. Have a rest in evening. (D).

Day 3 Kunming

Guide will collect group at 10.00 a.m. Today's program will include a trip to Kunming's famous Botanical Gardens. Free time in afternoon. Rest and acclimatise, Kunming is 1,892 metres above sea level, this is your preparation for Tibet. ( B,L, ) .

Day 4 Lhasa

Fly to Lhasa in morning. Met by guide and transferred to Lhasa city which takes around 1.5 hours (70 kms). After arriving in Lhasa, rest and acclimatise. (B,L,D)

Day 5 Lhasa

You'll spend a whole day sightseeing in the holy city: in the morning, visit Lhasa's major landmark- Potala Palace, a structure that deserves a place as one of the wonders of eastern architecture. It is also listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. In the afternoon, visit Jokhang Lamasery- the most revered religious structure in Tibet, also see the surrounding area, Barkhor, Lhasa's pilgrimage circuit. This area is both the spritual heart of Lhasa, and the main commercial district for Tibetans. (B.L,D)

Day 6 Lhasa

More sightseeing in Lhasa. Visit the Sera Monastery, which is known for debating monks, visit Drepung Monastery. Observe or take part in one of the Pilgrim Circuits. ( B,L,D)

Drepung Monastery.

Day 7 Lhasa/Gyantse/Shigatse

Lhasa- Yamdroktso-Gyantse From today, you will be exploring outside Lhasa. In the morning, drive 110 km to visit Yamdroktso, one of the 3 holy lakes in Tibet. It is winding road all up to the mountain. After we cross over the Kambala pass of 5,030 metres, the lake finally appears. Seen from the summit, the lake is a fabulous shade of deep turquoise. In the afternoon, you will go to Gyantse, visit Kumbum Monastery and Gyantse Dzong, an ancient fort. Enjoy walk in this Tibetan town. Then you'll drive to Shigatse. (B,L,D)

Tashilhunpo Monastery.

Day 8 Shigatse

In Shigatse, you will visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lama, built in 1447. After visiting this magnificent monastery you will drive back to Lhasa ( 1.5 hours. (B,L,D)

Day 9 Lhasa/Namtso Lake/Lhasa

A relaxing day, driving about 500 km round trip. We will pay a visit to the beautiful holy lake, Namtso, and north Tibetan natural landscape, grassland and snowcapped mountains. Namtso is the highest saltwater lake in the world, the name means "Heavenly Lake " in Tibetan. (B,L,D)

Day 10 Lhasa/Chongqing

Free in the morning. After lunch fly to Chongqing. Picked up by guide and transferred to hotel after dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 11 Chongqing

Free day in Chongqing. Enjoy some relaxing time before the flight home. You can organise a short river cruise, or a visit to the Hugang Guild Hall. You can shop for tea, as Chongqing is famous for tea, or visit the Chaotianmen Market, to find textiles and fashion items. 2 nights Chongqing.